Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.0K

Maternal Tobacco Use During Pregnancy and Child Neurocognitive Development

Troy B Puga1,2, Hongying Daisy Dai1, Yingying Wang3

  • 1College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

JAMA Network Open
|February 13, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) is linked to lasting neurocognitive deficits in children. This study found lower cognitive scores and smaller brain regions in children exposed to MTDP.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) is a global concern.
  • Longitudinal data on MTDP's impact on childhood neurocognition is limited.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) and neurocognitive development in children aged 9 to 12 years.
  • To identify specific cognitive functions and brain structures affected by prenatal smoke exposure.
  • To provide longitudinal evidence on the enduring effects of MTDP.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study design was employed using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
  • Children aged 9-10 years at baseline (Wave 1) were followed for 2 years.
  • Neurocognition was assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery, and brain structure was analyzed using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI).

Main Results:

  • Children with maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) showed significantly lower scores in oral reading recognition, picture sequence memory, and picture vocabulary.
  • These cognitive deficits persisted at the 2-year follow-up.
  • Structural MRI revealed smaller cortical areas and volumes in specific brain regions, including the precentral, inferior parietal, and entorhinal areas, in children with MTDP.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) is associated with enduring neurocognitive deficits in children.
  • Prenatal smoke exposure impacts both cognitive performance and brain structure.
  • Further research is recommended to explore the links between MTDP, cognitive skills, and memory.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes05:13

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Published on: February 28, 2025

196
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

574

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.4K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
68
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
285
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
209